What was your favourite project in the XR Terra program?
I really wanted to explore hand tracking and gesture recognition as well as put my day job skills of working with APIs to use. I created Binance VR as a demo application to apply the skills I learnt and my interests in XR interaction. The Coin data is pulled down in real time and users can configure a number of different panels to display price and other information.
What ancillary benefits have you gained as a result of being in the course?
Well, this one might not be so relevant in a year (let’s hope) but during the pandemic, having a regular schedule to focus on learning along with the virtual company of the rest of the cohort made dealing with the stress of lockdown easier to endure. It’s also a great way to work through a lot of content with other people who share in what you are going through.
What have you been upto after completing the XR Terra AR VR Development bootcamp?
I have recently taken a CTO position with BitReel, a startup company that utilizes AR to support retailers. We create a photorealistic digital twin of stores, so shoppers can easily navigate through the store on a desktop or mobile device. These visuals are complemented with ambisonics and haptics to create a truly immersive experience.
What advice would you give someone about to attend the program?
Even though the program schedule is part time so that you can continue to work, be prepared to sink plenty of extra hours into projects on your own time. Bootcamps give you the tools, examples, and technical assistance when you are stuck, but it’s really up to the students to continue digging in and learning through their own explorations and continue deeper down paths after the doors are opened to see what you can really do on your own.
